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Title
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Gas chromatographic determination of ethyl glucuronide in hair : Comparison between tandem mass spectrometry and single quadrupole mass spectrometry
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Author
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Abstract
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| Ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a minor metabolite of ethanol, accumulates in hair and is currently used as a long-term marker for the detection of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. Sensitive methods are required to differentiate teetotalers from moderate drinkers according to the established cut-off (i.e., 7 pg/mg hair). The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive method using gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GCMS/MS) operated in the negative ion chemical ionization (NICI) mode. The validated method was applied to hair samples from teetotalers, moderate and excessive alcohol consumers, and results were compared to a previously validated GCNICIMS method. The developed GCNICIMS/MS method showed linearity over a range from 2 to 400 pg/mg hair, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 pg/mg hair and a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.2 pg/mg hair, compared to an LOD of 0.5 pg/mg hair and LLOQ of 1.5 pg/mg hair obtained with GCNICIMS. Furthermore, lower background noise was observed using GCNICIMS/MS. Comparison of results of hair samples (n = 58) obtained by GCNICIMS and GCNICIMS/MS showed no significant difference between both methods (paired-sample t-test, p > 0.05; mean CV = 1.0%). The differences between both methods were larger for EtG concentrations < 30 mg/pg hair (mean CV = 1.7%) than for EtG concentrations > 30 mg/pg hair (mean CV = 0.7%). This suggests a higher selectivity of GCNICIMS/MS at lower concentrations. In conclusion, by using GCNICIMS/MS, a higher analytical selectivity and an improved signal to noise ratio, can be achieved. Although GCNICIMS would not change the interpretation of the EtG concentrations, the present GCNICIMS/MS method should preferentially be used for the determination of EtG in hair, especially when differentiating between teetotalers and moderate drinkers according to the current cut-off (i.e., 7 pg/mg hair). |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Forensic science international. - Lausanne, 1978, currens
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Publication
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Lausanne
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2015
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ISSN
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0379-0738
[print]
1872-6283
[online]
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DOI
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10.1016/J.FORSCIINT.2014.11.022
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Volume/pages
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249
(2015)
, p. 20-24
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ISI
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000351947300009
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Pubmed ID
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25562794
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
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